The tournament opened with fine weather: mostly sunny and moderately breezy all day. With ground still damp from the recent rain, the notorious Atkins hoops are quite easy to run, up to a moderate angle. Conditions are most challenging at Plimmerton, with extreme variation in pace and significant slopes. Unsurprisingly, this is where games have been longest, and three games are pegged down.
Read MoreMorning Coffee: 2016 AC Worlds Coverage
It's been an entertaining eight days of croquet at the 2016 WCF World Championship in West Palm Beach, Florida. As we prepare for a few remaining block finishes and the tiebreaker, we'll note that Mark Avery (9-0) (ENG) and Simon Jenkins (6-3) (USA) have made it all the way from the qualifier to the knockout. Also from the qualifier, Ted Salter (5-4) (AUS) could make the tiebreaker playoff, if Chris Patmore can defeat Ian Lines in the last remaining game for Block F.
Read MoreMorning Coffee: Fletcher Wins Fourth Australian Open
AUSTRALIAN OPEN: Robert Fletcher claimed his fourth straight Australian Open singles title with a 3-0 win over Kevin Beard (26tp-0, 26tpo-14, 26tpo-13) at the Victorian Croquet Centre, Cairnlea, Victoria. The event was held November 18-23 and Fletcher went 14-0 and is the world number one AC player with a 2787 dynamic grade and a 71-9 record for 2014. Full bracket.
HANEKOM INTERVIEW: CWO has an extended interview with new Women's GC World Champion Judith Hanekom. Excerpt:
Morning Coffee: Croquet or Roque?
At the top of this week's news is the Norwegian Nine-Wicket Croquet video (see link below). There is so much that the video touches on, but the main discussion was centered toward the concept that it is really roque that is being played. It is of course interesting to see how the game has evolved in different parts of the world. No matter what the Norwegians think they are playing, I would agree with the assertion that it is pretty much roque. Fundamentally though, it hardly matters. Take away the short mallet restriction and one-hand rule (seemingly unique for Norway) and it's pretty much nine-wicket croquet.
Read MoreMorning Coffee: A New U.S. Golf Croquet Champion
Visit the storeJust in time for the holidays, Issue #12 of Croquet Network Magazine has mailed and should have hit most North American mailboxes over the weekend. It's a good one featuring an in-depth interview with new GC World Champion Mark McInerney that you won't want to miss.
British Open Update: Singles Playoff Bracket
The open swiss is complete and the full bracket can be found here:
https://www.croquet.org.uk/?p=news/newsdb.asp&NewsID=3839
Full list of players that made the knockout (wins/games):
Open Swiss 5/5 Reg Bamford
Open Swiss 5/6 Ben Rothman
Open Swiss 5/6 Mark Avery
Open Swiss 5/6 Robert Fulford
Open Swiss 5/6 Samir Patel
Open Swiss 5/7 Danny Huneycutt
Open Swiss 5/7 David Maugham
Open Swiss 5/7 Jamie Burch
Open Swiss 5/7 Jeff Soo
Open Swiss 5/7 Kevin Beard
Open Swiss 5/7 Robin Brown
Open Swiss 5/7 Rutger Beijderwellen
Open Swiss 5/8 Jeff Dawson
Open Swiss 5/8 Keith Aiton
Open Swiss 5/8 Miranda Morgan
Open Swiss 5/8 Paddy Chapman
Open Swiss 5/8 Stephen Mulliner
Open Swiss 5/9 Brian Cumming
Open Swiss 5/9 Chris Patmore
Open Swiss 5/9 Hamish McIntosh
Open Swiss 5/9 James Death
Open Swiss 5/9 Martin French
Open Swiss 5/9 Tim Wilkins
Open Swiss 5/10 Andrew Johnston
Open Swiss 5/10 Dave Kibble
Open Swiss 5/10 David Goacher
Open Swiss 5/10 Dennis Bulloch
Open Swiss 5/10 James Hopgood
Open Swiss 5/10 Jim Bast
Open Swiss 5/10 Nick Parish
British Open Update: Singles Playoff Qualifiers
With the open swiss still in progress, the following twelve players have qualified for the singles knockout at the British Open:
5/5 Reg Bamford
5/6 Ben Rothman
5/6 Mark Avery
5/6 Robert Fulford
5/6 Samir Patel
5/7 Danny Huneycutt
5/7 David Maugham
5/7 Jamie Burch
5/7 Jeff Soo
5/7 Kevin Beard
5/7 Robin Brown
5/7 Rutger Beijderwellen
More results available on the Croquet Association website:
http://www.croquet.org.uk/?p=news/newsdb.asp&NewsID=3790